Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18
PAY OF POSTMASTERS.

w Hcu lcIIel postage WIS fcuuCeu
from three cents to two cents a great
injustice was done to third and
fourth class postmasters.
Their compensation is based en-
tirely upon the receipts of the Office
and it was none too high before.
Reducing the postage diminished
the receipts but did not lessen the
work; in fact, it increased the work
if it caused people to write more
letters.
Congress ought to right this wrong
and while doing so it ought to go
further and correct an unjust dis
elimination which existed before.
That is this:
In the first and second class Offices,
where the postmasters have large
salaries, the government furnishes
everything-building boxes, fuel,
furniture, lights and clerk hire. But
in the third and fourth class offices,
where the salaries are small, the
government furnishes nothing. The
law requires the postmaster to give
bonds, to provide boxes and a safe,
to furnish suitable building and
keep it warmed and lighted, and not
only allows him nothing for rent,
clerk hire, fuel, lights, or interest on
his investment, but requires him to
return to the government every cent
of income from his own property
thus invested in the business.
TO show the injustice of this only
requires the fact to be stated. But
this is not all. When the postmaster
rctires his successor is not oblige d
to take his boxes and furniture and
the government will allow him moth,
ing for them. They are useless for
any other purpose. 1t often happens
that a years income of small offices
is thus lost to the postmaster.
The meeting of postmasters held
in Rutland last week was part of a
general movement all over the coun.
try to bring the injustice to the at.
tention of congress and have it rem.
edied. No political considerations
enter into such movement. Those
classes Of postmasters embrace mer
of all parties, some Of whom continue
through many administrations, be
cause nobody else wants the office
or is wanted in it. But even if they
were all democrats or all republicans
that would not affect the question of
Justice one way or the other.
The village postmaster is the most
useful public servant. He jumps tC
accommodate people twelve or more
hours every day, and often gets uF
nights or goes out of his way Sun
days to do favors for which he gets
not one cent. He has to bear Will
the complaints, disappointments. ig
norance and insults of all classes OF
people, and when he is obliged t.
exact an income for the government
from his own property, he is Otter
accused or suspected of peculation.
OF course these ills are incident t.
the position and cannot be remedieC
by government; but the antiquateC
system of making the official supply
the office ought to be done ava,
with, and then the pay should b,
restored to fair basis.
The above is taken from the Rut
land Herald, and unfortunately Their
is too much truth in it. AS an illus
tration, we instance the post oflic
at Island Pond, for we doubt if Their
is another post office in New Eng
land where so much work is required
for the small compensation given
1t is an exchange Office with Canada
Hundreds of thousands of letter
arc exchanged and distributed an
nually. The exchange Unregistered